Chow Down on Championship Snacks

(Family Features) When the clock ticks down toward game day and you’re putting together a snacking plan of attack, turn to recipes like these that you and your guests can savor for all four quarters of action.

With different choices to draft from, there’s no need for a superstar main course at the center of the meal. Instead, rely on options like customizable brats and pulled pork sandwiches, baked chicken wings and game-day dips for winners all around.

Top Your Tailgate

Take your tailgate or home viewing party to the next level by setting up a topping station with a variety of both traditional and unexpected condiments and garnishes to let your fellow fans customize their grilled fare. Include options such as:

Ketchup and mustard (with flavor variations for added zing)

Sauerkraut or cole slaw

Chopped fresh and grilled onions

Chili (homemade or from a can)

Pickle spears and relish

Barbecue sauce

Sriracha

Assorted shredded and crumbled cheeses

A variety of peppers

A Game-Day Winner

Game time is no time to mess around when it comes to fast, savory snacks. Crispy and light, tangy and bold, these wings have you covered for all your game-day needs. These spicy hot wings pair perfectly with Litehouse Chunky Blue Cheese or Homestyle Ranch Dressing and may result in another game day rivalry: blue cheese vs. ranch. Whether you’re hosting the game-day party or bringing a dish to a friend’s bash, these wings can make mouths water from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. Find more game-day recipes at litehousefoods.com.

Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutesServes: 8

4 pounds chicken wings

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

nonstick cooking spray

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup hot sauce

1/2 cup Litehouse Chunky Blue Cheese or Homestyle Ranch dressing

1/3 cup Litehouse Blue Cheese Crumbles

carrots

celery

Lay wings on rack on rimmed baking tray and let dry in refrigerator overnight, or pat dry with paper towels.

Heat oven to 250° F. Put one oven shelf in lower quarter of oven and one in top quarter.

Dip into Game Day

Game day is about huddling up with friends and family, and feeling good about the food you share. Kick off the big game with Sabra, the official dip of the NFL, and help the crowd go wild when you put a twist on traditional hummus by topping it with bruschetta. Available in more than a dozen flavors, Sabra Hummus is made with fresh chickpeas, a touch of garlic and smooth tahini, making it a wholesome and delicious accompaniment for your favorite game-day chips, crackers and veggies. Find more big-game recipes at sabra.com.

Bruschetta-Topped Hummus

Prep time: 5 minutes

Bruschetta:

2 cups multi-colored cherry tomatoes

1 clove garlic, minced

10 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus additional (optional)

salt, to taste

container Sabra Classic Hummus (10 ounces)

To make bruschetta: Cut cherry tomatoes into quarters or eighths, if large. Place in small mixing bowl. Stir in garlic, basil and olive oil, and season with salt, to taste.

Scoop hummus out of container and swirl onto serving plate. Top with bruschetta and drizzle with touch of olive oil, if desired. Serve with fresh vegetables or pita chips.

A Heaping Handheld

Snack like a champion during the big game with recipes that please palates without overfilling like these Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Since guests can pile their sandwiches as high as they like with sweet pork and optional toppings, there’s no need to worry about serving sizes. Find more honey-infused recipes for tasty meal solutions at honey.com.

Soak hickory chips in water; drain well. Wrap chips in foil; punch holes in foil and place on top of gas grill set on high. When chips begin to smoke, place pork on grill and cook until well browned on all sides with lid closed, about 30-45 minutes.

Heat oven to 300° F.

Remove pork from grill and place in turkey-size oven bag set in large, shallow baking dish. Add water and seal well; pierce bag several times with small knife. Cook 3-3 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender and pork bone can be removed easily. Remove from oven. Remove bone and set aside until cool enough to handle.